Perry cool on question of endorsing Straus (UPDATE)

Gov. Rick Perry is unequivocal in his support of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s bid for U.S. Senate, even going with him to vote early this morning at a public library in Tarrytown, an upscale neighborhood near downtown Austin.

And while Perry was scathing in his criticism of presidential candidate Mitt Romney when he was battling him in the primary – and even is leaving the door open for another bid himself in 2016 – he also proclaimed his enthusiasm for the former Massachusetts governor: “On a scale of 10, show me as a 10.”

UPDATE: Here’s the comment from Erin Daly, spokeswoman for Texans for Joe Straus, who didn’t quite address whether Straus has specifically asked Perry for his endorsement: “Speaker Straus is proud of his endorsements from business groups, first responders and conservative leaders throughout Texas and welcomes support from anyone who appreciates his respectful conservative leadership in the Texas House.”

Straus has not been one to march lockstep with Perry, evidenced most recently when he declined to sign Perry’s budget compact that includes an anti-tax pledge, saying that he agrees with its principles and has delivered on them, but that he has a long-standing policy against signing pledges. Straus added that “we welcome the input of the executive, but the Legislature needs to assert itself from time to time as well.”